Los Palacios

Spain · IGP · Andalucía · 5 commune(s)

Styles

Natural factors

Flat or very gently undulating topography, with a mean altitude of 20 m above sea level, in the campiña to the north of the lower Guadalquivir valley.
Semi-continental Mediterranean climate with warm summers and Atlantic oceanic influence; rainfall of 400–600 mm concentrated in autumn and winter.
Winkler Zone V (2,250–2,440 °C-days); Huglin Index of 2,660–2,900 °C-days, placing these among the earliest-ripening vineyards in Europe.
Sandy loam soils, approximately 10% clay, loose and deep, with neutral pH, no active limestone, and organic matter below 1%.
Harvest typically begins in the final days of July, driven by rapid sugar accumulation surpassing 12% probable alcohol.

Human factors

In 1963 the growers joined together in the Hermandad de Labradores; in 1987 they established the cooperative Nuestra Señora de Las Nieves.
The variety Airén, cultivated since the 18th century, coexists with Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Colombard, introduced during the 1990s. (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)

Product characteristics

Medium-high alcohol and a rich, unctuous character in aged wines, the result of high sun exposure and the absence of rainfall during ripening.
Fresh on the palate with good acidity and fruity notes, balanced against the alcohol level thanks to the extremely early harvest.

Terroir / wine link

The extremely early harvest (end of July) preserves freshness and acidity owing to the high heliothermal index (Huglin 2,660–2,900 °C-days).

Facts drawn from the cahier's terroir-link section (Lien au terroir) by automatic interpretation — see the the specification.